Masonry that
holds up.
Restoration, tuckpointing, and rebuilds across Chicago and Milwaukee, documented project by project. Real façades, real timelines, real results.
Selected
case studies
A cross-section of restoration and structural masonry work across both metros: brick, stone, chimneys, and stucco. Tap any project for the full breakdown.
EIFS to Natural Stone Facade
A synthetic stucco front elevation stripped to the sheathing and refaced in Halquist natural stone.
Read case study
Historic Mortar & Stone Matching
Hard modern repairs reversed with period-correct lime mortar and near-invisible stone patching.
Read case study
Balcony Refinishing & Sealant Program
Every balcony prepped and repainted, with a building-wide sealant and caulk plan by condition.
Read case studyEIFS to
natural
stone
A synthetic stucco (EIFS) front elevation, past its service life, stripped back to the sheathing and refaced in solid Halquist natural stone veneer, color-matched to the home.
A synthetic skin, real problems
The front elevation was EIFS, a foam-and-mesh system finished to look like stucco. It reads fine from the curb, but it dents, stains, and can trap moisture against the wall behind it.
On a home this size the owner wanted the permanence and the look of real stone, not a synthetic surface that needs babysitting every few years.
Down to the sheathing, up in stone
- 01Full EIFS removalStripped the entire front elevation back to sound sheathing.
- 02Substrate repair & prepRepaired the wall behind it and built a proper base to carry stone.
- 03Halquist natural stone veneerLight Mesquite, minimal browns, assorted 4 to 12 inch heights.
- 04Slightly raked grey jointsMortar finished for a clean, defined shadow line across the face.
- 05Scaffolded, sequenced, protectedWorked the elevation in stages to keep the site clean and the home covered.
BeforeThe original synthetic stucco elevation, past its service life, coming off.
DuringStripped back to sound sheathing, substrate repaired and prepped to carry stone.
AfterHalquist Light Mesquite veneer, slightly raked grey joints.
Les on this project
Les O'Hara walks through what was behind the old facade and why the stone was the right call.
Real stone, built to stay
Your project
could be next.
Free, no-pressure masonry assessments across the Chicago and Milwaukee metros. We'll tell you what actually needs doing, and what can wait.